Josephine Mandin
There’s no question that Nottingham has quite the reputation. However, whilst at first it may seem like an invigorating hub for parties, university life here can also be relaxed and feel more homely than may seem imaginable. Josephine Mandin enlightens us on their tips for feeling warm and welcomed at UoN throughout this frosty season…
Making Nottingham feel like home
On results day of 2023, I was terrified. My journey to UoN was somewhat unique, having never even applied to the uni or visited the city until I went through clearing. Fast forward a year and a half later, I’ve made friends for life and I truly can’t imagine being anywhere else. From my tiny box room in first-year student halls to my chaotic but loving house in Lenton, fuelled by endless pub trips and coffee outings, Nottingham has truly become my home. Admittedly, finding your crowd and settling in at university isn’t always easy. In the winter months, it can be particularly difficult to feel at home with the days getting darker and deadlines looming. I’ve compiled a list of a few things that helped me settle in at uni and made Notts feel like home, so hopefully everyone can enjoy everything the city has to offer this winter.
Decorating your room
Making your room at uni feel like yours is so helpful for settling in and making it home. Think posters of bands you like, houseplants, pictures of your friends, etc! In the winter months, there’s nothing better than coming home from lectures to a nice, warm, cosy room, especially if it’s cold and dark outside. Blankets, nice cushions, fairy lights and anything else you find comforting are sure to help you settle into uni and will make your room somewhere you can feel relaxed and at peace. I’d also recommend not working in your room so it really feels like somewhere you can wind down.
While I love a good night out, doing fun daytime activities with my friends has made me love Nottingham as a city even more and appreciate what it has to offer.
Wholesome days out!
Some of my favourite memories of university have been the wholesome activities I’ve planned with my friends, exploring different parts of the city and bonding with each other. While I love a good night out, doing fun daytime activities with my friends has made me love Nottingham as a city even more and appreciate what it has to offer. A festive favourite has to be the Winter Wonderland. Even if you don’t buy anything, the atmosphere is so cute and Christmassy that you can just go and people-watch and look around the stalls. My favourite first-year memory is going to Winter Wonderland with my friends from halls and I think this brought us all closer and helped us settle into uni. This is such a fun day out to take your mind off of essay deadlines or exams towards the end of term, so I must recommend it. My favourite place in the city is probably Wollaton Park. It’s a great place to come alone and reflect, read a book, or catch up with friends over a coffee and a walk. The Christmas market here is really good to get into the festive spirit!
Visiting home
It seems counterproductive, but sometimes a trip home can make you appreciate uni life and what it has to offer even more. I love going back to see my family, having home-cooked meals and catching up with old friends. But going home also makes me appreciate the freedom I have at uni and how exciting it is to live in a little student bubble compared to my sleepy hometown. I can walk down Derby Road and bump into 10 different people, go out spontaneously, pick up a new sport, and try something new, all while being surrounded by like-minded people. University life is a myriad of opportunities: sometimes, it takes going home to appreciate the community and spontaneity that is unique to student life.
You will find like-minded people wherever you go, and you don’t need to join every society on campus to feel involved.
Societies
I have made some of my closest friends at Nottingham through my involvement in societies. In my first year, I danced. Dance has been a part of my life ever since I can remember, so the silly ballet class I took once a week to destress made me feel so at home. I walk into Portland Dance Studio, and everything else, all my deadlines and work stress, cease to exist, and all that matters is if I can lift my leg higher than the week before, if my toes are pointed, and if I perfect a combo. The familiar scent of hairspray, the sound of ballet slippers on the sprung floor, and the feeling of striving for perfection are a welcome distraction from university stressors. They remind me of home. This year, I have also pushed myself to try a new sport. In picking up cricket (which I’ll admit, I’m still terrible at), I’ve found a group of amazing friends, pushed myself out of my comfort zone and learnt how to laugh at myself. Who needs to learn how to bowl straight if you can just make a complete fool out of yourself instead? By sticking to a hobby I’ve done since I was a toddler and by trying something completely new, I’ve tried to make the most of my first year and a half at Nottingham. I spent a lot of my first year stressing about not being ‘involved’ in things at university, so this serves as a reminder that it is never too late to start- even as a complete beginner. You will find like-minded people wherever you go, and you don’t need to join every society on campus to feel involved. The number of societies and the abundance of opportunities can feel overwhelming, but if I could give anyone any advice, it would be to try out just one thing- no matter what year you are in!
Settling into university is hard, and the winter months can be the hardest of all. The above things have truly made the city feel like home, and I hope that no matter where you are in your university journey, the final few weeks of semester one bring you joy, friendships and love.
Josephine Mandin
Featured image courtesy of Benjamin Cheng via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of Scott Webb via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
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